Psychology and mental health

Concurrent and longitudinal links between friendship and peer victimization: implications for befriending interventions

Article Abstract:

Self-reported friendship and peer accounts of victimization have been examined to assess how far friendship can protect against victimization. 158 students provided data six months after an initial data collection period during the same school year. Those students with a reciprocated best friend at the initial inquiry were less likely to be reported as having been victimized. Students without a best friend at both inquiries were most likely to be victimized, and those with a best friend at both times were least likely to be victimized. This has implications in tackling bullying.

Protective and risk effects of peer relations and social support on antisocial behavior in adolescents from multi-problem milieus

Article Abstract:

A study was conducted on the relation between antisocial behavior and social resources among high-risk teenagers. The Externalizing Scale of the Youth Self Report was employed to measure behavior problems. The findings indicate that the absence of social embeddedness has a risk effect for well-adjusted teenagers and a protective effect for deviant adolescents. Moreover, it was observed that social resources were more significant in teenage girls.

Effects of peer victimization schools and perceived social support on adolescent well-being

Article Abstract:

Being bullied at school may lead to stress in children and it may have major adverse effects on their general wellbeing. This may be further exacerbated by inadequate social support. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) was used to study 845 adolescent school children in South Australia. Frequent peer victimization and low social support were found to contribute significantly to relatively poor mental health.